Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Center board ponders keeping director

The BJCC board appears split over whether to extend the convention complex director's contract in a vote that could help determine the fate of a proposed $50 million downtown hotel.

The Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex board is scheduled to vote Wednesday on whether to keep Jack Fields in place past Dec. 10, when a contract that pays him at least $155,000 a year expires.

Bob Schwartz of National Ventures Group, which wants to build a 300-room Westin Hotel adjacent to the BJCC, said a vote against keeping Fields as executive director could jeopardize the project, which has reached a critical phase.

"In my opinion, it is essential for Jack to stay on if possible," Schwartz said Monday. "He is the most knowledgeable person at the BJCC about the hotel and proposed entertainment district. It would be wise for the board to extend his contract."

Fields, a 21-year BJCC employee and executive director since 2004, last month told the board he wants to stay on through June 30, 2011, so he can retire a few days prior to his 66th birthday.

Schwartz said he would like to see Fields stay longer -- until March 2012, when the hotel is scheduled to open. Schwartz's Atlanta-based firm is trying to iron out the project's final details with city officials.

Fields' extension request generated controversy at a July 21 meeting as a majority of the board voted to go into executive session to discuss his character.

The board tabled Fields' request until this month. The item regarding Fields on the Wednesday agenda also says the board will look at setting up a process to conduct a national search for a new executive director.

Dennis Lathem, a board member who chose not to participate in the executive session, said Monday that Fields has done a good job steering the BJCC through the worst recession in decades.

Records from the BJCC show that its general fund balance rose from $541,000 to $2.4 million during Fields' tenure as boss. Its reserve fund climbed from $778,000 to $7.8 million, largely from revenue generated by county alcoholic beverage and lodging taxes.

"We've had positive cash flow the last seven or eight years," Lathem said. "Not many convention centers can say that in this economy. With that kind of performance under his leadership, I don't know why anyone would not back extending Jack's contract six months."

Board member E.C. Brown, who has publicly criticized Fields at board meetings, said he has "no opinion" when asked Monday about the contract extension.

"The jury's still out. That's all I can say," Brown said.

In his request for an extension, Fields said in a letter to the board the extra time would allow the BJCC to conduct a thorough search for his replacement. "It will also allow the new executive director to be brought on board in advance of my retirement so the transition can be completed as efficiently as possible," Fields wrote.

Field's contract, signed in December 2008, calls a base salary of $155,000 annually and consideration of a raise after the first year. It also eliminated bonus and incentive compensation, according a copy of the contract.

The bonus that Fields and previous executive directors received was a cause of division on the board, board chairman Clyde Echols said after the executive session last month without elaborating. Efforts to reach him Monday were unsuccessful.

Birmingham Mayor William Bell, a board member, urged the board last month to keep Fields in place, saying management stability is crucial as the city seeks to finalize a contract that would land the Westin Hotel.

Efforts to reach Bell and his chief of staff, Chuck Faush, were unsuccessful Monday.